Final Sweet Susie

3-24-1993 has a really good GTRFB for that era, but 1972-08-22 is better.

Things warm up considerably in the second set.

This show was the day after my two best friends (and roommates) left for Oregon in wedded bliss and left me crying in my schnops. I went by myself and quickly remedied the loneliness by indulging in a routinely supreme effort by a band that was literally on fire and couldn't quit burning.

Though it's not the best night of the run it's still a great one. All four of these of the BCT's that August were tremendous. Unfortunately, because BCT was a sitdown theater the faithful didn't like it too much and neither did the ushers who gave up midway thru the first set and disappeared leaving the rowdy headbashers to leave their assigned seats and do their thing up front. I was positioned on the floor's midsection and, dancing alone in my seat, was quite happy to merely stay put where my ticket dictated.

Like the night before, This show just gets better and better and ends on a blasting note. Then, after a night off on Wednesday, the Thursday show starts right up where this one leaves off. And then, of course, comes Friday's veritable unheralded masterpiece, and then two days later Veneta. "Shoot," I raged within, "everyone's going up to Oregon!"

Say what you will about The BCT being unfriendly to crowd wandering Dead Heads, the GD always played well here because they COULD hear. BCT has great acoustics and, that night, it was simple for Betty and Bear to quickly dial the boys right in -- well, after all, they'd had enough practice behind the board from the night before. Twas truly all that was required.

You take a song like Black Throated Wind. The consensus about this song is generally that BTW is a buzzkill. Not so on this night! Ohhh, no, you hear the delicious warbling tones of Jerry's squeaking white Strat dodging in and out of Bobby's gleeful and engaging Gibson counter punching.

The sound within this venue is disclaimed such that the listener can hear every instrument and every vocal clearly.

Hence, perhaps here resides the GD's best singing days -- as they were in the summer of 72 before Phil's voice went south. Berkeley Community Theater's beautiful ambiance, a competent band, a dutiful sound and equipment crew all made these the Dead's best singing days ever.

Truly remarkable sound for a two track-off-the- board mix with very little technical adjustment. I know. I was there. Here was a clear formula for the GD in 1972: Do four nights in a great sound venue. Dial-a-magic. Land.

Before the end of the first set, Jerry turns to the audience and says in reply to a crack in the nut gallery, "Oh, relax, we'll get to all that top 40 shit later."

Check out Phil's bass solo in Other One. Notice that you've spilled your drink.

Yes, for the audiophile there are many minor glitches obvious in this (these) recording(s)
yet Mssr Miller did it again for us and put together a most listenable device from various and disparate sources. Hats off, Monsiuer Charles!

Really superb effort displayed, and on every song.

Veritably the best time you can have with yourself standing up... "Less yer locked up in a closet in Oregon."

No, not tonite.

Great show but I didn't feel they hit the heights they did on the Europe tour. Highlights for me include the epic Other One centerpiece with a great bass workout from Phil and the NFA suite to end the show with a great GDTRFB and Bo Diddley sandwiched in the middle.

This might be the best '72 show (?!). That's saying a lot. I know the Spring tour is sooo good, but they some times go on a little too much. The Oregon show always seemed a little too manic for me. The Fall tour has some great spots (see K.C.), but never quite worked for me. This one is just perfect.

Excellent show and superb remaster by Mr. Miller.

Another Great show, 1972 is fine time in the bands journey. thirty seven years AGO from this day they played and I'm there!!! great recording.

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It's a Charlie Miller Transfer...5 stars!

I highly recommend adding this show to your 1972 GRATEFUL DEAD collection.

Get the all GRATEFUL DEAD shows at the Berkeley Community Theater, August 21, 22, 24 & 25 1972.

For easy streaming and/or downloading users of Windows XP should view this web-page with RealPlayer.

Eat, Drink, Be Merry and Listen to the GRATEFUL DEAD.

Thanks for the Love from 1972.

PS: Click on Charlie Miller's name and collect all his GRATEFUL DEAD shows, he has impeccable taste.

Can someone help me download this show?
Swansong_79@hotmail.com

If anyone can point me to a better GDTRFB than this one, I'd be grateful, and more than a little surprised. It starts out very mellow, then Jerry just starts rifling off a dizzying flutter of wild licks, Keith picks up on the vibe and joins in, and Bobby and Phil (this is late 72) are on the absolute top of their game, laying a groove-laced foundation. Donna and Bobby are psyched when the vocals begin, audibly rocking off mic, and the fever reaches a pure 71/72 rock and roll crescendo . . .

And then, well, they don't want to stop! So they launch into a wild, ultra-rare, slide-driven Hey Bo Diddley before going back to Not Fade Away. And as if all this is just too much to take, the tape cuts. The end. Classic.